Analyst: Wolf and Fetterman could unite Pa. Democrats

Gov. Tom Wolf and his newly elected Lt. Gov. running mate John Fetterman speak to media at Manchester Cafe in Manchester Township
York Dispatch

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Gov. Tom Wolf, right, greets newly elected Lt. Gov. running mate John Fetterman as they meet for lunch and to speak to the media at Manchester Cafe in Manchester Township, Wednesday, May 16, 2018. Dawn J. Sagert photo(Photo: The York Dispatch)Buy Photo

Fetterman said he and Wolf discussed their shared roots in York County.

Enthusiasm: Political analyst G. Terry Madonna said Fetterman, who was endorsed by Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Pennsylvania's United Steelworkers union, should add a sense of enthusiasm to Wolf's campaign, particularly with progressive Democrats.

"He helps marry the two wings of the Democratic Party," Madonna said, noting that Wolf has very liberal positions but has had to deal with four years of working with a very conservative Legislature.

Fetterman said he believes Wolf will be just fine running on his own record, and if he can help contribute in any small way, he's happy to do that.

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Gov. Tom Wolf, right, greets newly elected Lt. Gov. running mate John Fetterman as they meet for lunch and to speak to the media at Manchester Cafe in Manchester Township, Wednesday, May 16, 2018. Dawn J. Sagert photo
The York Dispatch

Braddock Mayor John Fetterman, who was elected Lt. Gov. on the Democratic ticket in the primary election Tuesday, waits for running mate Gov. Tom Wolf as they meet for lunch at Manchester Cafe in Manchester Township, Wednesday, May 16, 2018. Dawn J. Sagert photo
The York Dispatch

Madonna said he doesn't necessarily believe Democrats need any extra excitement because they've already been shown to be the more energized party right now.

"The anti-Trump sentiment among Democrats is huge," he said, though he added that a lot could change between now and November.

Low turnout for Dems: While Democrats voted in greater numbers statewide on Tuesday, York County Democrats didn't show as much enthusiasm.

Less than 17 percent of registered county Democrats voted, down from about 22 percent during the last midterm primaries in 2014, according to county voting records.

Chad Baker, chair of the York County Democrats, said he thought the competitive 10th Congressional District race — where George Scott edged out Shavonnia Corbin-Johnson in a four-candidate race — would draw more to the polls.

He suggested low turnout was a symptom of a larger, general dissatisfaction with politics.

"People are tired of politics," Baker said. "It’s been very divisive for the past few years. People are turned off by the whole process."

Higher for GOP: York County Republicans countered with more than 25 percent of registered voters showing up to the polls Tuesday, up from less than 20 percent in 2014.

Alex Shorb, chairman of the York County GOP Committee, said he wasn't surprised Republicans outpaced local Democrats because there were more contested Republican races locally.

He added that he believes local Republicans are more energized behind Wagner than they were for then-incumbent Gov. Tom Corbett in 2014 because they know Wagner more intimately.

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Jeff Bartos (left) announced Thursday, Nov. 9, that he will be suspending his U.S. Senate campaign to run as Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor in partnership with gubernatorial candidate state Sen. Scott Wagner, R-Spring Garden Township. (Photo by David Weissman/ The York Dispatch)(Photo: The York Dispatch)

Wagner will be running with Jeff Bartos, of Montgomery County, and the two have been campaigning together for months despite the governor and lieutenant governor races being separate on the primary ballots.

Madonna said the two are dynamically suited as a pro-Trump ticket that should appeal to the same base of voters who helped the president win Pennsylvania in 2016.

— Reach David Weissman at dweissman@yorkdispatch.com or on Twitter at @DispatchDavid.